Antenna News in English 101096

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, of 10/10/09/1996

TITLES

• A Turkish air force pilot goes home after being treated by Greek doctors.
• The justice minister's quarrel with the media.
• And, insurance companies worried government tax moves will ruin business.

TURKS

Satsekli Osman and his co-pilot ejected themselves from their craft when it started having trouble as it was violating Greek airspace. Shortly after the F-16 crashed, Osman was rescued by Greek crews.

A grateful Osman was released from the hospital after overnight treatment Wednesday, and flown back to Turkey. Doctors said the pilot, who has suffered extensive second-degree burns, spoke to his family by phone before leaving Greece.

Hopes of finding the second pilot are almost zero. Search crews have found only his helmet so far, and some of the plane wreckage.

Greek military officials believe the crash was caused either by faulty steering equipment or a problem in the fuel system. One of Osman's Greek doctors thinks that the pilots burns were caused by gasoline, suggesting a fuel problem.

GREECE REACTS/CRASH

He adds that he would be happy to discuss ways of preventing such tragedies in the future.

Greek foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos clarified the Greek position, saying the only way to avoid similar incidents is for Turkish fighters to stop violating Greek airspace and attracting the attention of Greek jets, which are sent to push them back.

Greek president Kostis Stefanopoulos says Turkey has thanked the Greek government for rescuing its pilot. And it seems the episode has closed.

But Greece doesn't believe there will be no more Turkish violations of its airspace, and remains ready to meet all challenges from its aggressive neighbour.

After meeting with prime minister Kostas Simitis, defence minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos made that clear, and responded to suggestions that the Tzoganis letter means Greece is ready for broad dialogue with Turkey.

"Humanitarian moves to rescue a human being should not be interpreted in political terms", said Tsochatzopoulos. "There is no basis for dialogue with Turkey. We just did our duty, rescuing a pilot and returning him to his country".

The Greek government says before a political dialogue can be started between the two countries, Turkey must give tangible proof that it respects Greece's territorial integrity and human rights.

Sources say the Greek government is considering allowing talks between military leaders, but only about how to avoid mishaps like Tuesday's crash.

ON-EXPULSION

A court has turned down their request for political asylum.

The three men entered Greece illegally in a stolen truck Monday, saying they couldn't stand the living conditions in their country.

Making their asylum appeal, the men said they will be tortured if forced to go home.

EVERT-SOUFLIAS by ANDREAS PANAGOPOULOS

Evert says his re-election to the party's top post last week is good coin, adding that he has no intention of jeopardising his leadership position at the party's congress next year.

But his sole opponent in last week's electon, Giorgos Souflias, said after meeting with Evert Wednesday, that he had run against Evert to offer a durable and permanent solution to the leadership issue. Evert's re-selection by New Democracy MPs and electors, he added, is a temporary solution.

Souflias believes that the issue will be settled for good with another leadership contest at the congress.

Heasked Evert to schedule the congress to be held in the spring, and all indications are that he intends to run for the party presidency again.

According to sources, Evert told Souflias the congress cannot be held earlier than June, for practical reasons. He asked Souflias to be an MPs' representative and to take a seat on the party's political council.

Souflias declined the offers, suggesting once again that Evert's leadership is temporary. "I told Mr Evert I won't sit on the political council because our party's going through a transitional period", he said.

His attention is focused on the congress which he says will decisively resolve the leadership issue, and lay out a strategy that will guarantee New Democracy victory in the next parliamentary elections.

A number of New Democracy MPs commented on the Evert-Souflias meeting.

MP Giorgos Panagiotopoulos weighed in with Evert, saying, "Our party's charter does not provide for temporary presidents".

Thanassis Nakos echoed that view.

Another MP, Giorgos Karatzaferis was ambivalent about the outcome of the tet-a-tet. "It was a step", he said, "but I don't know if it was a step forward, or a step back".

YIANNOPOULOS

A court prosecutor and police officers entered the station Tuesday, to arrest the offending journalists. Sky says Yiannopoulos ordered the action, adding that it amounts to an attempt by a government minister to curb the freedom of the press.

Yiannopoulos denies sending the prosecutor. And government spokesman Dimitris Reppas says Pasok has a proven track record when it comes to defending freedom of expression. He declined to make any statements about the prosecutor's intervention, saying the government doesn't like to interfere in the work of the judiciary.

Yiannoulos says the reports on Sky amounted to quote "an intentional assassination attempt", and is incensed by the additional claim that he sent in the police.

But New Democracy MPs say Yiannopoulos is out of line. Marieta Yiannakou-Koutsikou says he over-reacted. She asks, "If we reacted that way to every offensive media story, where would be?"

And Giorgos Kalatzis says the knife cuts both ways. He says, "We politicians like the media when they flatter us, but not when they say things we don't like".

Pasok MP Loukas Apostolides put a different spin on the matter, referring to the explosive Yiannopoulos's well-known spontaneous character.

QUAKE/CYPRUS

The 6.4 quake was centred in the sea between Cyprus, Rhodes and Crete.

It lasted for a minute on Cyprus, and also shook Rhodes, Crete, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan.

Two people died of heart attacks, and some 25 injuries were reported around Pafos and Lemesos in Cyprus. In Greek-Cypriot refugee areas some houses collapsed, and others cracked.

Police authorities in Crete and Rhodes said there had been no injuries or damages reported on those islands.

But in a village north of Cairo, Egypt, a 40 year old man was killed when his house collapsed. Panic seized Cairo, as memories were revived of the 6.1 earthquake that took 400 lives there a few years ago.

In Israel, people felt the quake in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as did residents of Arab towns in the West Bank and the Gaza strip.

INSURANCE

Insurance company reps like Doukas Paleologos say that many of the 4 million privately-insured Greeks could cancel their insurance policies if they can no longer deduct their premiums from their taxable income.

That could force a number of insurance companies out of business.

Paleologos says the insurance business needs support, because it provides many Greeks with vital pensions in their old age.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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